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Senate version of the budget allots more to law enforcement agencies
The Senate version of the CNMI government’s budget for fiscal year 2016 is still $145 million, but there will be major changes in the appropriations particularly for the CNMI’s law enforcement agencies.
The Senate on Tuesday night unanimously voted “yes” to the budget, which will now go back to the House of Representatives for another round of review.
According to Sen. Jude C. Hofschneider (R-Tinian), some $5.6 million have “been moved around” so that law enforcement agencies, particularly the Department of Public Safety, will get more.
Hofschneider is chairman of the Senate Committee on Fiscal Affairs, which reviewed the budget after the Senate got the House version.
DPS, according to Hofschneider, will get about 20 additional FTEs.
The additional appropriation for DPS came from a “multitude of shifting funds,” Hofschneider said, adding that there is also a cost overrun of $1 million that the Senate committee used for appropriations.
According to him, it is not just DPS but also the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and the Division of Customs that will benefit.
“I would say this is a huge change,” Hofschneider said the idea behind it “is to ensure that there is enough police officers” for the safety of the CNMI.
He also said the consensus of the committee is that salary increases are long overdue for these departments.
“The salary increases seem to favor only certain departments, and it seems to be close to inequity when it comes to law enforcement agencies,” Hofschneider said.
Senate President Victor C. Hocog (Ind-Rota) said if the House of Representatives “rejects” the Senate version, then there might be a need to form a conference committee.
The committee will have representatives from both Senate and House of Representatives.
Hofschneider added that “we’re ready to work with the House” on the budget.
